A United Call for Action

United Call for Action

The following letter from First Nations, conservation and fishing organizations, and esteemed British Columbians regarding key items in Minister Tootoo’s mandate letter pertaining to wild Pacific salmon was forwarded to the Minister on May 18, 2016. Endorsements will continue to be added over the next few weeks.

We commend you and your government for recognizing the cultural, ecological, and economic importance of wild Pacific salmon to First Nations and other citizens of British Columbia.

The undersigned groups and individuals are united in our support for key elements in your mandate letter that we wish to see fulfilled. Doing so without delay will help restore public confidence in federal management of BC’s wild salmon, and signal a commitment to renewing relationships with First Nations.

“Act on recommendations of the Cohen Commission”. At a cost of $37 million, the Cohen Commission is the most comprehensive review of Pacific salmon management ever undertaken. We support Justice Cohen’s sensible recommendations and urge you to embrace their principles and fully implement the recommendations by the end of your current mandate.

Fully implement all six strategies of Canada’s Policy for Conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon by the end of your mandate: (1) Standardized monitoring of wild salmon runs; (2) Assessment of habitat status; (3) Inclusion of ecosystem values and monitoring; (4) Integrated strategic planning; (5) Annual program delivery; and (6) Performance review. Brought in by the previous Liberal government in 2005, and neglected but left intact during the Harper years, the Wild Salmon Policy remains a foundational public policy with broad support from First Nations, fishing and conservation groups, and other British Columbians. Moreover, several of Justice Cohen’s recommendations focus on fully implementing the Policy as written.

“Work with the Minister of Transport to review the previous government’s changes to the Fisheries and Navigable Waters Protection Acts, restore lost protections, and incorporate modern safeguards.” You have a mandate and broad support for immediately reinstating the habitat provisions of the Fisheries Act that were removed through omnibus bills C-38 and C-45 despite significant opposition from First Nations and the general public. Please do so, and provide adequate resources for monitoring and enforcement. Once habitat protections are restored, we support a thorough review and full consultations to further improve this essential Canadian law.

We stand ready to work with your government and Fisheries and Oceans Canada in accomplishing these critical tasks.